For a majority of my life, I must admit that I have been a strategic learner. My middle school and high school days consisted of memorization, repetition, and surface learning. Teachers would hold our hands, give us hints and walk us through each assignment, literally telling us what would be on a test the next day. Often, I would memorize vocabulary words and their definitions without even knowing what they meant. Very rarely would I dive deep into whatever I was learning and actually understand it. Although, at the time, taking the easy ways out was less stressful, this mindset did not force me to challenge myself or work through my own problems. As a result, I have fallen into the habit of seeking help whenever an obstacle is presented. Now, upon coming to college, I have been hit with a heavy dose of reality. No longer do I have teachers to stand by my side. No longer will I be coached through things step-by-step or given individual attention. After reading about Bain's research on the different mindsets, I am further prompted to stray from my past of strategic and surface learning. Now that I am another step closer to the real world, I need to turn my mindset around and motivate myself to learn what lies beneath the surface. My goal in the next several months, is to gradually develop the attitude, study habits, determination and perseverance of a deep learner.
Looking at Cedric Jenner's college experience so far in A Hope in the Unseen, I can identify several things that we have in common. Although he is going to Brown, a famous Ivy League School and I a State school, we are both stepping forth into new, unknown worlds where we must find a way to adapt to a new education, new people and experiences. Based off of what I have read so far in this novel, Cedric's character has been trying to find himself and his place in this world. I too, am on a journey to discover myself as well as my capabilities and passions in life. From the very beginning of this story, it is quite obvious that Cedric is much different from those around him. Although I was not withdrawn, bullied or alienated like him in Balleu High School, I faced a slightly similar situation because I was often the odd one out. My whole life, I have been very different from my friends and those around me. I am weird, quirky and unique and this was quite uncommon in the little, conservative town of Smithfield. Over at Brown University, Cedric seems to be overly sensitive to the behavior and actions of his peers. He often assumes that they are judging if a joke is made or a comment directed at him. Being different and sensitive like him, I sometimes assume that people are judging me, when in reality no one is. Both he and I need to work on having a tougher skin, and not worrying about what others say or do. Lastly, Cedric clearly takes school very seriously, seeing as his perseverance and intelligent are what reeled him out from the ghetto. Now that I am entering college, I also want to try to take my learning and studying seriously. We both want to get the most out of our education so that we can make it in the real world and be successful.
From my experience in good ol' high school, from the ups and downs, I have learned a lot. Looking back at my tendency to be a strategic learner, I regret not taking enough challenges and not developing my problem solving abilities. However, with this knowledge, I plan to invite more challenges into my life, work out dilemmas on my own and trust what I am capable of. With time, confidence and experience, I feel as though these goals will be reachable. By developing the mindset of a deep learner and by learning from the past, I plan to develop my passions in my studies and in my aspired teaching career.
https://uriteacherknowledge.wikispaces.com/EDC+102h+F15+AA-IntroAnaliseEngland
Early Schooling:
https://uriteacherknowledge.wikispaces.com/EDC+102h+F15+AA-EarlySchoolAnaliseEngland
High School Experiences:
https://uriteacherknowledge.wikispaces.com/EDC+102h+F15+AA-HIghSchoolAnaliseEngland
Non-School Academic Influences
https://uriteacherknowledge.wikispaces.com/EDC+102h+F15+AA-OutsideExperiencesAnaliseEngland
What type of learner do you intend to be?:
For a majority of my life, I must admit that I have been a strategic learner. My middle school and high school days consisted of memorization, repetition, and surface learning. Teachers would hold our hands, give us hints and walk us through each assignment, literally telling us what would be on a test the next day. Often, I would memorize vocabulary words and their definitions without even knowing what they meant. Very rarely would I dive deep into whatever I was learning and actually understand it. Although, at the time, taking the easy ways out was less stressful, this mindset did not force me to challenge myself or work through my own problems. As a result, I have fallen into the habit of seeking help whenever an obstacle is presented. Now, upon coming to college, I have been hit with a heavy dose of reality. No longer do I have teachers to stand by my side. No longer will I be coached through things step-by-step or given individual attention. After reading about Bain's research on the different mindsets, I am further prompted to stray from my past of strategic and surface learning. Now that I am another step closer to the real world, I need to turn my mindset around and motivate myself to learn what lies beneath the surface. My goal in the next several months, is to gradually develop the attitude, study habits, determination and perseverance of a deep learner.
Looking at Cedric Jenner's college experience so far in A Hope in the Unseen, I can identify several things that we have in common. Although he is going to Brown, a famous Ivy League School and I a State school, we are both stepping forth into new, unknown worlds where we must find a way to adapt to a new education, new people and experiences. Based off of what I have read so far in this novel, Cedric's character has been trying to find himself and his place in this world. I too, am on a journey to discover myself as well as my capabilities and passions in life. From the very beginning of this story, it is quite obvious that Cedric is much different from those around him. Although I was not withdrawn, bullied or alienated like him in Balleu High School, I faced a slightly similar situation because I was often the odd one out. My whole life, I have been very different from my friends and those around me. I am weird, quirky and unique and this was quite uncommon in the little, conservative town of Smithfield. Over at Brown University, Cedric seems to be overly sensitive to the behavior and actions of his peers. He often assumes that they are judging if a joke is made or a comment directed at him. Being different and sensitive like him, I sometimes assume that people are judging me, when in reality no one is. Both he and I need to work on having a tougher skin, and not worrying about what others say or do. Lastly, Cedric clearly takes school very seriously, seeing as his perseverance and intelligent are what reeled him out from the ghetto. Now that I am entering college, I also want to try to take my learning and studying seriously. We both want to get the most out of our education so that we can make it in the real world and be successful.
From my experience in good ol' high school, from the ups and downs, I have learned a lot. Looking back at my tendency to be a strategic learner, I regret not taking enough challenges and not developing my problem solving abilities. However, with this knowledge, I plan to invite more challenges into my life, work out dilemmas on my own and trust what I am capable of. With time, confidence and experience, I feel as though these goals will be reachable. By developing the mindset of a deep learner and by learning from the past, I plan to develop my passions in my studies and in my aspired teaching career.